Conference misery::feline_v1

146.0. "Cat Psychology on a gotten cat" by TONTO::EARLY () Tue Sep 17 1985 14:06

Recently I had the opportunity to do a close friend a real great favor. Very
great considering I am allergic to cat dander & etc.

On the day of arrival, my friend was in a car accident, and I had to retrieve
the cat from a damaged car (people were only mildly damaged). The cat,
Bobby, seemed ok. I got him to my house on the way to the hospital, and he
promptly went into  hiding. That was 5 weeks ago. At first, the cat would
not come out for anything (except to eat and use the cat-box). After
many hours of coaxing, my friend persuaded him to come out, and after he
did we showered him with affection. Last night after I got home, I 
only neede to call him a few times, and he came out for his periodic
petting. He still hides , but seems more willing to come out of his hiding
place.

I think the moral is: if you've given or gotten a cat that seems very
reluctant to socialize with it's new owners, give it time, patience, and
lots of affection when able.

Bobby is still very skittish. In his former home he had 8 relatives to play
with, plus 6 people, in a modest size house. With me, he has no playmates,
and a fairly large house to get used to.

A couple of points:

Usually, a cat in a new environment tends to "hide."  When i took my cats to
my Fiancee's while my house was first being worked on, my modt intelligent
cat, Merlin, hid so thoroughly that it took me fifteen minutes to find him.

Also, if you *are* a new owner, try renaming the cat.  If he identifies with
you without invoking memories of his former owners, it sometimes makes the
transition easier.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

re: .0

'Bobby' has adapted well. I'm also adapting, too. See new note: Bobby, adapted
well.